Walking Through Fire

Chapter One

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The emergency room was unusually quiet, a rare occurrence that felt almost surreal amidst the usual chaos of urgent care. I welcomed the brief lull, knowing it might be my only chance to catch a moment of respite. The opportunity to escape for a few minutes was a welcome break from the relentless pace of my shifts. I could grab a coffee—my lifeline during these grueling hours. It's the only thing that helps me power through the endless stream of emergencies, and for a moment, I allowed myself to savor the thought of a hot, strong cup of coffee.

But the silence in the ER also signaled something less appealing: a shift in duties. A quiet emergency room meant fewer immediate trauma cases, but it also meant the dreaded paperwork was likely just around the corner. I had no intention of spending my downtime buried in forms and reports. I needed action, not administrative drudgery. The thought of being stuck at a desk while someone else might be dealing with a critical situation somewhere else was unappealing to me. Sometimes, paperwork is not so bad when my friend; Christine is around. Her presence could make the mundane task of filling out forms feel a bit more bearable. She'd pop in now and then, bringing a bit of light and camaraderie to what would otherwise be a tedious job. But today was one of those days when she couldn't be here. She doesn't work in the ER like I do; she is usually occupied with therapy sessions and other patient care tasks.

Her absence meant I'd have to face the mountain of paperwork alone. I'd much rather be out there, responding to emergencies and making a difference in real-time, than be stuck in the back office with nothing but a stack of paperwork and the ticking clock for company.

Just as I was contemplating whether to grab that coffee or dive straight into the pile of paperwork, my phone rang. I immediately recognized the caller's ID and knew who it was. The sound of my superior's voice in the hallway asking for me makes me jump, by his tone, it was clear that my break was over.

Without hesitation, I sprinted towards the maternity department. The emergency room, usually a cacophony of noise, was now filled with the shouts and hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses as I darted through the hallways. Some of them called out to me, their voices a mix of surprise and irritation, but I barely registered their comments as I pushed forward.

Navigating the winding corridors, I feel my heart racing. The adrenaline is pumping, and I know every second matters. As I burst into the maternity department, the scene hits me like a wave. My sister, Megan, is holding her baby, my nephew.

Dad and Mike are already there, looking through the window the baby "Joker." Mike looks at my dad. "You are a pop-pop."

Dad's smile is wide, like a kid who's just been given candy. Megan catches sight of me and her face lights up with happiness.

"And I'm an aunt," I say, returning her smile. They both turn to greet me, and each of them gives me a kiss on the forehead. We enter the room, and I take a spot next to Mike, watching the scene unfold. I never thought Reggie would stick around after all the trouble my dad caused trying to push him away, but he's here. In just a couple of months, Megan and Reggie are getting married.

I look at Megan, exhausted but radiant, holding her newborn. "So, that big baby came out of your vagina," I say, grinning. "Good luck getting that back to how it was before."

Mom gives me a "shut the fuck up" look and passes the baby to dad. "Oh baby, look at him." She says, Mike and I move closer, peering over dad's shoulder at the baby. The little one's tiny fingers and toes, and the way he scrunches his face, are absolutely adorable. "No doubt is in the eyes."

Mike nods. "And the ears." The baby's ears do resemble Dad's unmistakably.

Mom interrupts our lighthearted observation. "And the name," she says, drawing our attention. "Marcus Miles Burnett."

Dad's expression turns to one of confusion. "But that's my name."

"His name too," Megan replies with a smile. "We decided to name him after you. It was Reggie's idea."

I let out a sigh of mock disappointment. "Many names in the world, and you two decided to use that name for my first nephew. He's going to be cursed." Everyone laughs except dad and Reggie.

"Though it will be a very respectful gesture, sir, I hope you approve." Reggie looks at him with respect. Dad regards Reggie with a mixture of surprise and approval in his eyes. Reggie always seems to have this reverent attitude towards dad, like he sees him as some kind of deity. It's a dynamic I find both interesting and a bit amusing. Despite the fact that dad can sometimes be rough and brusque, especially with Reggie, he has a way of earning respect that's hard to ignore.

I've heard stories about how Reggie's first date with Megan went. Dad and Mike made it quite an ordeal for him, creating awkward moments that became legendary in our family lore. I would have loved to witness it myself—the way they must have grilled Reggie, testing his mettle and making him sweat. It's all part of the family ritual, I suppose.

"That's cool, but you know, you still need to make an honest woman out of my baby girl there."

"Uncle Mike, ready to hold the baby?" Megan says, her eyes twinkling with a playful challenge.

Mike shakes his head, backing away slightly. "No, Uncle Mike don't wanna catch that."

Suddenly, dad starts to cry, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. "Stop," Mike whispers, dad's voice breaking as he murmurs something about little Marcus. "Stop it right now. Seriously."

"But look at the baby." He keeps whispering, and I step between them to gently touch the baby's head.

Babies are always sweet, bringing a flood of emotions with their tiny, innocent faces. The joy of a new life and the hope for the future mix with tears of happiness and a poignant reminder of the passage of time. 

"Okay, you know what? I'll be outside," Mike says, walking out of the room, shaking his head in denial. Dad continues to mumble about how sweet the baby is, his tears flowing freely.

"Yeah, well, nobody asked, but I will hold my nephew." I gently take little Marcus from dad's grasp and kiss his nose, making him laugh. "You still have time to change his name, Megan."